About The Event
Play: Rakshasa Tangadi
Playwright: Girish Karnad
Direction: B.R. Venkataramana Aithal
Several historians have constructed the story of the Vijayanagar Empire and its downfall as the clash of nationalities and conflicts between religions. However, Girish Karnad's play has the backdrop of socio-political truths and perceives this phase of history from the standpoint of the people who were a part of it.
At the one end of this battle is Aliya Ramaraya. This son-in-law of Krishnadevaraya has pushed away from the direct descendants of the king and has taken into his control the kingdom's administration. On the other side are the small Muslim kings from the northern bastions, and they unite under the leadership of Bijapur's Adil Shah. The decisive battle takes place in this unusual socio-political context. Aliya Ramaraya gets killed in the battle that takes place between Rakkasagi-Tangadagi. Hereafter, the kingdom is looted by both locals and outsiders and is decimated in no time. This is the brief plot of the play.
